Bone-in jjimdak for 2-3 at a Hongdae restaurant in Seoul: Ongdarae

What did I even eat for lunch... oh right, something delicious, then went window shopping. Had a hand-pressed burger and wandered around. Mid-30s life means you're hungry again the second you turn your back on your last meal, so we headed to Hongdae, the street of youth, to sort out an early dinner too~

Where is Ongdarae Jjimdak? Between Hongik University and Hapjeong stations

We visited a place famous as a Hongdae group-dinner spot. This is Ongdarae Jjimdak — according to a friend who used to hang around Hongdae, it was pretty well known. The kind of place friends drop into whenever they're craving jjimdak (braised chicken), and end up staying for a drink or two.

Ongdarae Jjimdak sits between Hongdae and Hapjeong Station, but if you had to pick, it's definitely closer to Hongdae. Anyone who knows the area can probably tell just from the address :)

Ongdarae Jjimdak is, of course, famous for jjimdak. But apparently it's also known in summer for samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), fighting heat with heat — you can tell from the reviews. But we came for jjimdak. It's been way too long, I'm shouting about it.

Ongdarae Jjimdak is built on a soy sauce base with various medicinal herbs mixed in, making it a dish everyone, young or old, can enjoy. Parking space was bigger than I expected too, so if you're driving, feel free to park without worry and eat in peace.

Walking in, I noticed the place has been featured on many TV shows and visited by plenty of celebrities. It's even been visited by Conan O'Brien, the American late-night talk show host, not just Korean shows — which is pretty wild.

Ordering the medium bone-in jjimdak for 2-3, plus the free salad

We didn't even need to check the kiosk before ordering Ongdarae Jjimdak. Went with the medium size for 2-3 people. The free salad that comes with it has a sweet-and-tangy dressing — lettuce, red cabbage, corn and pickles, all really refreshing.

I genuinely can't live without carbonated drinks. What was great was that instead of just Fanta, they had Toms Zero — and pineapple flavor at that. Not something you often find in restaurants, so it was a nice surprise.

How the soy sauce tastes to someone from Andong

The jjimdak arrived mid-catch-up-talk, looking so good. As someone from Andong, the city known as the hometown of jjimdak, I know this dish well. Spoiler: this place is honestly better than the original. A soy-braised jjimdak flavor that pleases everyone, no exceptions.

Proof I've made it as a working adult: I can eat the chicken leg without hesitation. Whenever I need to remember to stay humble, I think about chicken legs. The soy sauce had soaked in so well that the salty-savory bite of it nearly knocked me out.

What's genuinely great about Ongdarae Jjimdak's sauce is that it's not just sweet — there's savory depth and spice living in there too, so it never gets boring. Mix in a bowl of rice with this sauce and you've got the ultimate rice thief, no question.

Ongbap: crispy rice with fried kimchi and dried seaweed

If Ongdarae Jjimdak has a signature specialty, it's ongbap. Crispy scorched rice topped with fried kimchi and seaweed flakes, delicious even on its own. Just looking at it, all crusty and chewy, you can already imagine how happy it'll make you.

It's also really cheap — barely more than plain rice. But the taste difference is night and day. Whoever came up with this must be a genius on par with Einstein.

Couldn't resist crispy rice plus a jjimdak full of soy sauce, so in it went. Push the ongbap into a corner of the sauce and mix well, and this is a specialty, no doubt about it. A Hongdae specialty product, honestly — I don't think anyone would object to calling this the signature menu item.

The potatoes, glass noodles and the bowl of plain rice

The potatoes that melt in your mouth like snow — I love those. Would've loved sweet potato even more, but with regular potato you can keep the sugar in check, so actually it's fine. Watching foreign diners tuck in happily too, it really is a small world when the food's this good.

I'm not usually a glass noodle person, but Ongdarae Jjimdak's sauce is so salty-good that they pair perfectly. If you've got the sauce, throwing in glass noodles alone can make for a filling meal.

One friend isn't a fan of crispy rice, so we ordered a separate bowl of plain rice and mixed it in. However you eat it, mixing in rice has to be the happiest moment of the meal.

Why Ongdarae Jjimdak works for a Hongdae group dinner

Even writing this review right now, in the middle of the night, I still want to eat it — that's how good it was. There's plenty of reason to recommend Ongdarae Jjimdak as a Hongdae group-dinner spot: delicious food that's also great value.

Andong-style soy jjimdak that pleases everyone, young or old. Even bone-in rather than boneless, I still ate it happily. Ongbap and plain rice, both loved. The crunchy pickles and appetizer salad were a nice touch too.

There was also a dessert tea time with homemade scones. Life is all about timing, and the scones were sold out the day I went, which was a bit of a letdown. I'd love to go back just to try the scones, along with more of that delicious jjimdak.

After visiting Ongdarae Jjimdak, famous as a Hongdae group-dinner spot, and eating my fill, I confirmed it: this really is a great soy jjimdak place near Hongik University. A trendy Korean dish I'd want to bring both elders and friends along to try.